Hollow shoe form



W. J DE WITT HOLLOW SHOE FCRM June 21, 1927.

Flled June 16, 1925 'c ets-Sheet A Cir/7..

1,632,953 June 21, 1927 w J DE WTT HOLLOW SHOE FORM Filed June 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "'ll/zilliawz :7: 22 70 286;

Patented June 21, 1927.

UNI-TED. STATES PATENT oF'FIicE;

wmmm m DIE win, or Anselm, NEW YORK.

nomiow sn'on roam Application filed June 16, 1925. Serial No. 37,486;

draw the usual: last from the shoe or otherarticle of footwear at some intermediate stage in the operation, for example, when making McKay shoes directlytafter the lasting operation is completed; and during the subsequent stages ofmanufacture, and also if desired up to the saleogf theshoeto the ultimate consumer, I maintain the original lasted shape of the shoe by means other then the last, for exemple, by the use of a hollow thin walled shell or form having an outer contour. substantially like that of the last and udapted'to keep the upper plumped out and ,free from wrinkles;

Such a form may in accordance with my process above outlined bewpluccd upon the last prior to the lastin' operation, the u per being lasted over the orm and the last a erward withdrawn leaving the form within theshoe, or alternatively the shoe may be lasted directly upon the last and after withdrawal of the last the form may be inserted in its place.

In order to must be capable of affording very substantial resistance to inward crushing andtdisuseful in the practice of my improved process, wherein the form remains in the shoe during the bottomingv operations, it must be openv at the bottom so as to avoid interference with such bperations; it should have thin walls so as to m but little in its outer contour from the contour of the last in substitution for which it is used; it should be resilient so that it will not break readily when subjected to blows; it should be cheap to manufacture and capable of being made-to conform with exactitude to the shoe last; it should not interfere with the withdrawal of the last from the shoe, and

In accordance with en improved process and the subsequent? cutting its function as a; suln stitute for the usual last theiorm must. fill the shoe to the same extentus thelast and tortion. In order that such a. form may be the cone {i and the throat "portion 5. itself should be readily removable from the. finished shoe; it should be, light in weight .and little subject to the action of moisture at ordinary temperatures; and it should. not

be llljllllOllS to the fabrics of which shoes are made. While particularly. useful" in performing the shoe manufacturing' recess labov re ferred to I find that forms mving generiil the abovecharacteristics have further utility is I Forexa npleisuch formswithslight, Y

modification, in shape orconstiuctionirre be elnplpyed as trees to keep. shoespliirnped out durlng intervalsof use or whileon exlub tion; they may, ifnot einployedasllasts during theearly stages of inanufacture of the shoe, be inserted .duringsub'sequenfiopei ations'to keep the. linings-clean; and inthelmanufacture of shoes fromuraferials which are easily soiled or damaged these forms or shells may beplacedupon theontsideof the ll I upper to protect the upper from-dirt or inury. In the latter event I-contemplate-the' use of any suitable fastener. meansfor securing them in position or the actualilasting in with the edges of the form with the. upper '90" away of the forms from the finished shoe.v 1

In making the present invention [been my ob ect .iI0.pI30 V1dQ.:8, ll0ll0. W- shell or form having the above characteristics desir-,

able in a form intended for; the viirious uses' suggested, and in theaccompah lug draw-- ings I have illustratedby way 'of ia xample a preferred form together with certain modil' fications thereof. y f '4' 00L In theaccompunying drawings": Figj 1- is a plan view "to smiill improvedform; I

Fig. 2'is a side elevation thereof; the form shown iniF-igs. 1 and 2 being-particulerly in- 93 tendedfor use as a last during the shoe making-process; I I I Fig. 3 iso transverse section to larger scale substantially on the'line-fi gof 1" Fig. Luis aside elevation of a; modified form; l ;Fig. 5 is a bottom plan .view of a still further modification; and Fig 6 illustrirtes the improved-form in position for insertion into or withdrawal from a shoe.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the. numeral .1 indicates the form as a whole, suchlforrn comprising the forepert 2, the heel part .3,

While this form may doubtless-be. made n Various ways, I prefer to make. itfrom p na ny L;

' some normally stiff sheet material, which,

under proper conditions, becomes somewhat plastic and, while subjecting such sheet material to the conditions necessary to make it plastic, pressing it against the surface of a shoe last of the desired contour and permitling it to set while in contact with the last so that it retains the exact slut )c of the last.

One material suitable for the purpose is sheet celluloid, while the substance known commercially as balzelite is also well adapted for the purpose. Donbtless other materials may be found which would provide the necessary qualities of lightness, resiliency, strength and capability of conforming under pro is; conditions to the irregular shape of a las and I contemplate that any such materials may be employed, if desired,

in making my improved form.

The side portions 6 and 7 oi the improved form extend rearwardly and are overlapped at 6 and 7" to form the heel portion. These overlapped portions areseparate and unconnected from top to bottom as indicated at 8 so that they are capable of a slight degree of relative lateral movement when the interior surface of the heel portion is subjected to lateral pressure.

A narrow slit 10, preferably of substantially uniform width, extends from the point 9 at the upper end of the cone downwardly and forwardly to the throat portion where it terminates in an openingll of a diameter greater than the width of the slit. This mode of terminating the slit is preferred as it forms a sto to prevent accidental extension of the s it into the lower forepart of the form.

The bottom of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is entirely open as indicated at 12 (Fig. 3), and the lower edgcs 13 are smooth and unbroken from the heel portion to the point 14: near the toe. From this point forward the edge is'cut away for a purpose hereinafter more fully explained."

In Fig. at a slightly modified construction is shown wherein the form 15 is in general like the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having the heel portion 3 and the toe portion T, but has its lower edge 13 extending continuously fromthe heel to the toe and is unprovided with the slit at its cone portion.

In Fi 5 a further modification 1S illustrated wherein the form 16, while preferably having the overlapping portions 6 and 7 at its heel end is turned inwardly along the forcpart of the shoe to provide the flange 17, and a strengthening bridge 18 preferably extends across the ball of the foot from one flange to the other.

The forms shown in Figs. 4- and 5 are particularly intended for use as trees for plumping out a finished shoe either during exhibition or between intervals of use although they may well be employed during the manufacture of a shoe if introduced at a stage in the operation such that they may be removed without difiiculty at a later time, or such that they do not interfere with operations upon the shoe sole.

The form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is particularly intended for use in my iinprored shoe makin process above outlined in .accordance with which the form is placed upon the last prior to thelasting operation. The proportions of the parts are such that when thus placed upon a last the edge 13 of the form is flush with the lower surface of the inner-sole. The upper is now lasted over the combined form and last and after the lasting 0 oration is complete, if, for example a Mo ay shoe is being made, the last is withdrawn leaving the form within the shoe and the form remains in the shoe during all subsequent operations.

In withdrawing the last the form' is free to expand to the neoessar extent in a lateral direction atits heel portion since the parts 6 and 7 are not connected, and likewise may expand to some extent at its cone portion by reason of the slit 10. Although the form 1s outwardly expansible at its heel it i not so readily pressedinwardly since the overlapping portions tend to interlock and prevent such inward movement. Since in almost all cross sections the form presents a curved contour it has a strong; arching effect which makes it capable of withstanding a very substantial crushing pressure and it has been found-in actual practice that it is capable of withstanding to the necessary deyree all of the various forces which may be brought to bear upon it during the process of making the shoe.

"When the shoe is completed as indicated in Fig. 6 where the forepart of the shoe is indicated at F and the heel portion at H, the form 1 may if desired be withdrawn from the shoe, theoutaway portion forward of the point 14015 the form facilitating such withdrawal since the "edge of the form forward of the point does not engage with the edge of the lnnersole.

While. I may, in accordance with my aforesaid process, withdraw the form at the completion of the shoe I may alternatively permit the form to remain in the shoe until itis plaqad in the hands of the ultimate consumer. In the latter event I prefer to trim oflthe upper projecting poring intervals between use as a shoe tree for keeping the shoe in proper shape.

While I have illustrated several modified constructions I contemplate that the invention may be embodied in other specific arrangements and that other uses may be found for the form, such for example as its employment as a protecting cover for the outer surface of a shoe during the process of manufacture. In the latter case a form substantially as shown in Fig. 4 would probably be employed, suitable fastener mean: being provided for attaching it although such fastener means would not be absolutely necessary and I contemplate that under some circumstances the edges of the form might be lasted in with the upper to retain the form in position. In this case if the substance of the form were of such character as to make this operation difficult I contemplate the provision of a margin or border secured to the edge of the form and capable of being lasted in with the upper, such marginal ortion in any case being cut oil to release tl ie form at the completion of the shoe.

While I have not described in detail the mode of making th' form it is to be understood that it may b e made in any suitable manner and by the use of any suitable machine While the form as made of the materials which I have referred to as desirable, is very thin so that it does not add materially to the size of the last, I propose if necessary, to employ with the orm a last slightly smaller than the desired size of the shoe, for example, a half size smaller, or possibly subjecting the last to a shrinking operation so as to reduce its size to compensate for the added thickness of the form.

While the form having the overlapping portions at its rear end is preferred, such overlapping parts may be dispensed with and a sim le slit or fissure pro 'ided at this point, and when the form is to be inserted in a shoe after the last has been withdrawn I find that it is not entirely necessary to provide for capability of expansion either at the heel portion or the cone portion, in which event the heel parts may be integrally or otherwise united and the slit 10 may be omitted.

I claim:

1. A hollow form for insertion into a completed or partly completed shoe, said form having substantially the shape of the external contour of a shoe last and comprising toe .and heel portions, the space within the form being substantially unobstructed and capable of receiving a last, the form being open at its top to permit a lastto be withdrawn therefrom or rein erted therein, said form having thin and stillly resilient walls of waterproof material and being open over the major portion at least of its bottom and normallv closed at its heel end.

2. A ollow form for insertion into a completed or parlallycompieted shoe, said form cons'sting or thin celluloid shaped to fit snugly within a shoe and comprising toe and heel portions, the space within the form being capable of rec iving a shoe last, the form bein open at its top to permita last to be withdrawn therefrom or reinserted into the space within the form and being. normally closed at its heel end.

A thin walled hollow shoe form open at top and bottom and having substantially the shape of a shoe last, said form com rising a toe portion, the lower edge of the orm being cut away around the toe ortion thereof to facilitate withdrawal of t e form from a finished shoe.

4. A hollow shoe form having substantially the external contour of a shoe last, said form comprising heel and toe portions and being open atits top and bottom, the walls of the form being thin and stifi, the toe portion being adapted to extend to the extreme forward end of the cavity in the shoe, the lower edge of said toe portion being cut away to facilitate withdrawal of the form from the shoe.

5. A thin walled hollow shoe form permanently open at the top and having the shape of a shoe last and comprisin a heel portion, said heel portion being 0 double the thickness of the remainder of the form and being laterally expansible from top to bottom when subjected to lateral pressure applied to its inner surface and being shaped to resist pressure applied to its outer surface.

6. A thin walled hollow shoe form permanently open at the top and having substantially the shape of a shoe last and comprising forepart and heel portions, the heel portion comprising curved overlapping elements which are unconnected from top to bottom but adapted to resist inwardly directed pressure.

7. A hollow open-topped shoe form having the shape of a shoe last, said form comprising toe and heel portions, the walls of the form being thin and stiiily resilient, the heel portions of the form comprising overlapping parts unconnected from top to bottom.

8. A hollow form adapted to be inserted in a finished shoe, said form consisting of thin and stiff sheet material molded to shape and comprising side walls which are turned inwardly at the heel portion of the form to constitute overlapping plies.

9. A hollow form adapted to be inserted in a finished shoe, said form consisting of sheet celluloid molded to sha e, the side walls being overla ped at the eel to reinforce the latter, t e overlapping portions lKlllg rt-0 and unconnected from top to bottoinof the heel.

It]. An opt'n toppetl hollow shoo form having substantially the shape of a shoe last, .1 saitl' torin having thin walls von-tituting l'ort! part amt Sltltf portions. the latter 0x tnntlingroarwartlly antl orurlappin; to form the heel portion, said overlapping parts'bein; l|ll'0lll." lt'tl from top to hottoni lllitl rolatiwly movable.

111A hollow shoc l'ornt pvrnlancntly open at it top antl having tho shape of a shoe last, ai l torni conqnhing, a tort part, bltltl, and hvel portions, the [ore part having a narrow slit of substantially uniform width extending from its upper edge forwardly towartl its throat portion.

12. A thin walled hollow SllUL iorni pmmantntl open at its top antl having sill)- tantiall the hapv ot' a hot' la t, said form t-on1pri in a l'ortpart portion, said forcpart portion ha\'in; a narrow slit tXttIltling ior\\'artll l'roni its upper trtlgc to its throat. aitl lit tvrininatin; in an opening of a lllilllltttl' grt-atvr than tho width of the lit.

bl' l'llttl ll hit at Auburn. New York, this 111th ttay ot' Juno, 1925.

wniiintn ti. on wrr'i. 

